ADW_MONSTERINST
Windows
![](/vinfo/imgFiles/legend.jpg)
Threat Type: Adware
Destructiveness: No
Encrypted:
In the wild: Yes
OVERVIEW
This adware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
TECHNICAL DETAILS
5,487,230 bytes
EXE
No
02 Dec 2015
Arrival Details
This adware arrives on a system as a file dropped by other malware or as a file downloaded unknowingly by users when visiting malicious sites.
Installation
This adware creates the following folders:
- %System Root%\DOCUME~1
- %System Root%\DOCUME~1\Wilbert
- %User Profile%\LOCALS~1
- %User Temp%\RarSFX0
(Note: %System Root% is the Windows root folder, where it usually is C:\ on all Windows operating system versions.. %User Profile% is the current user's profile folder, which is usually C:\Documents and Settings\{user name} on Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, or C:\Users\{user name} on Windows Vista and 7.. %User Temp% is the user's temporary folder, where it usually is C:\Documents and Settings\{user name}\Local Settings\Temp on Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP (32- and 64-bit); C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Local\Temp on Windows Vista (32- and 64-bit), Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8 (32- and 64-bit), Windows 8.1 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2012.)
Other System Modifications
This adware adds the following registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
ESENT\Process\starts
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\
ESENT\Process\starts\
DEBUG
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
MediaPlayer\Health\{AFD2925B-3C3B-4EF2-AA3E-469A2E467C61}
It adds the following registry entries:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Enable = "1"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Size = "a"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
InitHits = "64"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
Factor = "14"
It modifies the following registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is {random values}.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
CategoryCount = "1"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 10.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\
Services\Eventlog\Application\
ESENT
TypesSupported = "7"
(Note: The default value data of the said registry entry is 7.)
Dropping Routine
This adware drops the following files:
- __tmp_rar_sfx_access_check_35203
- starts.exe
Other Details
This adware connects to the following possibly malicious URL:
- {BLOCKED}0.1
- {BLOCKED}.79.82
- {BLOCKED}.108.239
- {BLOCKED}7.181
- {BLOCKED}.143.241
- {BLOCKED}.134.90
- {BLOCKED}.196.66
- {BLOCKED}0.193.119
- {BLOCKED}.133.145
- {BLOCKED}89.11
- {BLOCKED}.219.14
- {BLOCKED}103.148
- {BLOCKED}.138.65
- {BLOCKED}.9.29
- {BLOCKED}.6.219
- {BLOCKED}.3.120
This report is generated via an automated analysis system.
SOLUTION
9.8
Step 1
Before doing any scans, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 users must disable System Restore to allow full scanning of their computers.
Step 2
Delete this registry key
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ESENT\Process
- starts
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ESENT\Process\starts
- DEBUG
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International
- CpMRU
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Health
- {AFD2925B-3C3B-4EF2-AA3E-469A2E467C61}
Step 3
Delete this registry value
Important: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this step only if you know how or you can ask assistance from your system administrator. Else, check this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
- Enable = "1"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
- Size = "a"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
- InitHits = "64"
- In HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\International\CpMRU
- Factor = "14"
Step 4
Restore these modified registry values
Important:Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can lead to irreversible system malfunction. Please do this only if you know how to or you can seek your system administrator's help. You may also check out this Microsoft article first before modifying your computer's registry.
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
To: EventMessageFile = ""{random values}""
- From: EventMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
To: CategoryMessageFile = ""{random values}""
- From: CategoryMessageFile = "%System%\ESENT.dll"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: CategoryCount = "1"
To: CategoryCount = ""10""
- From: CategoryCount = "1"
- In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Eventlog\Application\ESENT
- From: TypesSupported = "7"
To: TypesSupported = ""7""
- From: TypesSupported = "7"
Step 5
Search and delete these components
- __tmp_rar_sfx_access_check_35203
- starts.exe
Step 6
Search and delete these folders
- %System Root%\DOCUME~1
- %System Root%\DOCUME~1\Wilbert
- %User Profile%\LOCALS~1
- %User Temp%\RarSFX0
Step 7
Scan your computer with your Trend Micro product to delete files detected as ADW_MONSTERINST. If the detected files have already been cleaned, deleted, or quarantined by your Trend Micro product, no further step is required. You may opt to simply delete the quarantined files. Please check this Knowledge Base page for more information.
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